Magnet - The Simple Life Review
Posted By Holly L. Perry on 11.12.2007

Magnet: A subtance, usually metallic, that has the ability to attract similar substances with a force that is not electric or gravitational.

The Simple Life: A reality show depicting two wealthy young socialites as they struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, doing farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants and working as camp counselors.

Magnet's The Simple Life: New album that made me wish that I had spent the hour listening to it while out delivering pizzas, Peter Parker sytle.

Magnet, also known as the Norwegian Even Johansen, draws you in on his fourth full length release with blends of folk with modern pop beats, horns, harmonicas and an array of symphonic strings. The album has eclectic characteristics - it's catchy, soft, upbeat, sweet, lovelorn and innocent. It makes you want to give Even a hug. It's sure to make female listeners swoon. He has developed a full sound with the array of instruments he pours into the songs, each one uniquely contributing to the album and captivating the listener enough to differentiate between them. Move over Jens Lekman.

His lyrics are sexually blatant and smirk inducing. He is clever and cute - you get the feeling he is singing to you. It is easy to relate to his passions and hopes of no more loneliness, untangling confused relationships and staying optimistic about unrequited love. His voice varies between a sugary coaxing to a crisp declaration. He seduces listeners in "Navigator" with sultry vocals, torn emotions and a somewhat tempestuous undertone. What will hook you, however, will be the thumping bass drum in "Lonely No More."

The Simple Life is easy to listen to, but you need to be in the mood for it. It's not incredibly exciting, and it is a bit much at points. While you may not recycle the album as a whole, individual songs will most likely make your playlists more than once. In addition to the above, check out "You Got Me" and "Slice of Heaven."